Cigarette making machines



Jan. 13, 1959 w. DUPKE CIGARETTE MAKING MACHINES Filed Nov. 17, 1955 INVENTOR.

Werner flea size,

Bi /70 4 i Jtzorneysnited States Patent CIGARETTE MAKING MACHINES Werner Dupke, Hamhurg-Bergedorf, Germany,.assignor '5 to Kurt Korber & C0. K. G., Hamburg-Bergedorf,

The present invention relates .to. improvements in cigarette making machines, and more particularly to compressing fingers adapted to compact the tobacco string as it is fed from the distributor.

One object of the invention is to provide a compressing finger having the same curvature radius along its entire length, thus providing a uniform curved surface for compressing the tobacco as it passes through the inlet finger such that a portion of the transverse cross sectional shape of the tobacco string will substantially conform to a perfect circle and said shape will not be unsymmetrical. l

Another object is to provide an inlet finger which is formed by cutting a cylinder of tubular section longitudinally and diagonally in a plane forming an acute angle with a central axial plane. Thus, an inlet finger may be formed which will have maximum wearing properties and will not need replacing for a considerable length of time.

Another object is to provide aninlet finger which will not produce a braking action on the tobacco string, but will compress the tobacco particles uniformly throughout the entire length of the string.

Hitherto, inlet fingers for compressing the tobacco particles in a cigarette machine have been constructed by cutting a conical shaped tube longitudinally at diametral points to form a section of semi-cylindrical shape tapering from one end to the other and formedfrom a longitudinal section of a cone. This structure causes the tobacco particles while passing thereunder to be braked or retarded in such a manner that more particles of tobacco will be disposed in certain areas than others. In

addition, excessive weartakes place at the operative face of the inlet finger, and since said fingers are of relatively thin metal they must be replacedfrom time to time which necessitates throwing the cigarette making machine out of action. i

The above objections and disadvantages are overcome by forming the inlet finger from a length of tubing which is circular and cylindrical throughout its length and cutting said cylinder longitudinally and diagonally at an acute angle to a longitudinal coaxial plane extending through the tube. The cut is made on a plane at an acute angle to the axial plane from a point at one end of the cylinder coincident therewith.

'the lines along which the same is cut to form an inlet finger in accordance with the present invention,

Figure 5 is an end elevational view of an inlet finger formed from the cone shown in Figure 3 and illustrating the prior art, and

Figure 6 is an end elevational view of the inlet finger shownin Figure 2 illustrating the same formed from one of the sections cut longitudinally from Figure 4.

In the drawing,and more in detail, attention is first directed to Figure 1 wherein there is shown a cigarette rod making machine including a spreader of a cigarette machine 5 supported by a suitable frame (not shown). Arranged beneath the spreader is an endless conveyor belt 6 which is arranged to pass over pulleys 7, 8 and 9 to travel beneath the stretcher5 and receive cut tobacco 10 in. the conventional manner. The endless conveyor belt 6 travels in the' direction of the arrow 11 and moves through a trough of U-shaped section (not shown).

Presser rolls 12 and 13 are arranged above and below string passes over a bridge piece 14 and enters the inlet finger 15 whichis arranged above an endless conveyor belt 16. The inlet finger 15 has its largest end presented to the bridge piece 14 and is provided on its upper surface with a lug 17 having slots 18 arranged in spaced relation for receiving fastening elements or the like 19 which are connected to a portion of the frame of the cigarette rod forming machine as at 20.

A strip of cigarette paper 21 is fed from a roll supply 22 and passes over a roller 23 arranged adjacentthe ends of the inlet finger'lS so that the tobacco string will pass onto the paper as it travels along on top of the conveyor 16.

Heretofore, the inlet. finger 15 has been formed by dividing a truncated cone 27 in Figure 3 along diametral lines 28. Thisforms a pair .of fingers, one of which is used at'a timeand is shown in Figure 5. Let it be assumed that the section 27 is used and the remaining half section set aside until a new inlet finger is needed. In this case, a lug 29 is attached to the prior device so that it may be supported from the framepiece 20 as shown in Figure 1. When so supported the inlet finger 27 of the prior art provides a large radius R and a small radius R. Thus, it will beseen that theprior art inlet finger provides a circular contour which will not uniformly compress the tobaccoparticles in a manner such that when they are relieved and passed through the inlet finger they will expand and it will be seen that such expansion will be uneven and that the cigarette produced thereby will not be of uniform section throughout its length.

The present invention provides an inlet finger 15 which is cut from a cylinder generally designated 3t) and shown clearly in Figure 4. The cylinder 30 is cut diagonally from one end at diametral points 31, and at an acute angle to a central plane C. The tube 30 is cut on a diagonal line 33 along a plane D which forms an acute angle with the longitudinal plane C extending axially and through a diameter of the pipe 30. The pipe 30 is of circular, tubular cross-section and is formed of a right cylinder. Thus, when the tube 30 is out along diagonal lines 33 on each side of the central longitudinal plane a pair of complementary inlet fingers 15 are formed one of which when placed as shown in Figure 1 above the cigarette paper strip 21 has a uniform radius as shown in Figure 6 at Ra and Rb. When the inlet finger section 15 is laid upon a flat plane the radius at the larger end emanates from a point coincident with the plane, and the radius of the smaller end emanates from a point spaced a slight distance d therefrom.

After the tube 30 has been cut on the diagonal line 33 extending at an acute angle to a central plane, the ends are cut as shown in Figure l and the lugs 17 are attached aeeasro by soldering or the like so that the inlet finger can be supported from one of the machine frame members 20.

It will thus be seen-that the circular curvature of the inlet finger-'constructedin' accordance'with the present invention provides 'a finger havinga"uniforrn circular curvature in section throughout its entiredength, with the result that the tobaccdpa'r'ticles and ci tObaccowfll be more 'firmly and" uniformly compressedduring their travel through the'inlet fingenand snchcompression will be in a direction such'that whenthe' cut tobacco passes through the finger and expandselightly, it will form a tobacco string having a transverse cross-section, the curvature of which substantially conforms to that of a perfect circle, a I

It is to be understood that thefforrn of; the invention herewith shown and described "is to be takeiiasa pr'e ferred embodiment thereof, and that various'changes'in" the shape, size and arrangement of parts maybe resorted to without departing from the spirit of the'invention' or the scope of the subjoined claims.

What I claim is: I

1. An inlet finger for compressing the tobacco "in cigarette machines, comprising an elongated member con stituted by an elongated-section of a hollowjcyli'ndrical member formed by a curved wall, said section being defined by a planepassing throughthe entire lengthof said hollow cylindrical section, said plane being disposed at an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of said hollow cylinder whereby said finger is provided with longitudinally extending tapered edges defined by the interception of said angularly disposed plane with the"curvedvva1l of said cylinder, and a supporting lugattachedto'saidfingenfor supporting same on said cigarette machine;

2. An inlet finger for compressing the tobacco"in"a cigarette machine, comprising an elongated member con stituted by an elongated section of a cylindrical member, said elongated member having equal radii, of Tcur'vafure at both ends thereof, and provided with taperededges lying in a common plane extending at an acute angleto a plane embracing the longitudinal axis 'of said cylindrical member, and a lug attached to the inlet fingerfor' supporting the same in a cigarette machine. a

3. An inlet finger for compressing cut tobacco in a'cigarette machine, comprising an elongated section of a cylinder having a uniform radius of curvature'throughout its length, said section being" provided with taperedidn'gi: tudinally extending edges lying in a common plane disposed at an acute angle with respect to a plane embracing the longitudinal axis of said cylinder, and a lug secured to the elongated member adapted to be attached to a cigarette machine.

4. An inlet finger for compressing the 'cut tobacco in a cigarette machine, comprising an elongated section of a cylindrical member, said section having-equal radii of curvature from one end to another, said finger being provided withtapered longitudinally extending edges lying in a common plane on a bias from one end to the other,

said common plane being disposed at an acute angle to a plane embracing the longitudinal axis of said cylindrical member, the edges at one end of said finger being coincident with a central longitudinal plane extending through the centers of said radii.

5. An inlet finger for compressing the tobacco string in a tobacco machine for making cigarettes, comprising an elongated tapered member formed from a segmentof a cylindrical body, said member having an equal radii of curvature throughout its entire length, said finger being provided with longitudinal tapered side edges arranged in a common longitudinal plane, said common plane-extending at an acute angle to a plane passing through the longitudinal axis of said cylindrical body, and a support lug attached to said member adjacent one end thereof;

6. An inlet finger for a cigarette making machine,'com"- prising an elongated section formed from a segment of a hollow cylinder, said member being tapered from one end to another and having uniform curvature on equal radii of curvature throughout its entire length, the'tapering edges of said member being arranged to extend longitudinally in a common plane disposed at an acuteangle to a plane embracing the longitudinal axis of said hollow cylinder, and a lug attached to said member on the ex ternal curved surface thereof adapted to be attached to a cigarette machine.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Hopwood Aug. 4, 1953 

